"Dont you even think about it!" Scully's voice made Sophia stop dead in her tracks, her fingertips meer inches from the doorknob.
Sophia's hand lingered for a few seconds just above the doorknob. If she was quick, she would make it. But if she had really wanted to leave, she wouldn't be standing there thinking about it. Sophia's mind was working a million miles an hour. It had been in overdrive since the second she had set foot in the Hoover building. Everything was overwhelming to her and she felt like she was drowning. She wanted to run and scream and find her 'friends' and just get high and drunk and forget about her shitty life but for some reason a part of her wanted to stay. After what felt like an eternity, Sophia lowered her hand and Scully let out a breath of relief.
Scully kept her eyes on the girl. Sophia was just stood by the door, looking lost. Scully felt sorry for her, she had had such a hard life and she was just this scared little sixteen year old girl with nothing more than the clothes on her back.
"Do you want to take a shower before your father wakes up?" Scully asked, trying to ease the awkwardness between them.
"Is he mad?" Sophia asked, bringing one arm across her stomach and pinching it with the other.
"A little" Scully shrugged. "But that's just because he was worried"
"Why? He doesn't even know me" Sophia took a step backwards, walking into the door.
"Because, you're his daughter and thats just who he is. He cares" Scully bent down and picked the empty chip packet off the floor. "I know it's hard for you, Sophia and i'm not going to pretend like I have any idea what you've been through or what you're going through, but he is trying. If you're scared of him leaving you, well, don't be. Mulder isn't going anywhere. He is really trying, just... don't throw it back in his face. He's been through a whole lotta crap too" Scully sighed, trying to level with the teenager.
Sophia stayed silent for a few moments, Scully's last statement had set all Sophia's alarm bells off again. Run. Run as far as you can and don't look back. You don't belong here. You can't hurt these people. They're good and they actually care. Run, run , run. Letting out a shaky breath, Sophia took a step towards Scully and away from the door and away from her thoughts. That shower was sounding pretty tempting right now! Forcing a smile, Sophia headed for the bathroom. Scully sighed in relief as she walked past her. Sophia discarded her clothes in the bathroom and jumped into the shower quickly. As soon as she felt the spray of water hit her skin, she let out a strangled sob she had been holding in. She sat down in the shower, her knees pulled tightly to her chest as she cried, her finger nails digging deeply into her wet skin.
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Sophia had been in the shower for ten minutes when Mulder came rusing out of the bedroom in a frantic worry.
"She's gone again, Scully" his eyes were glassy with tears and his heart was pounding so hard against his chest he thought it would explode.
"Relax Mulder, she's in the shower" Scully pointed towards the bathroom where the shower could be heard.
Mulder exhaled deeply, sitting down on a chair as he did. Scully handed him a cup of coffee and sat on the chair opposite him.
"So what exactly happened last night?" Scully asked, her eyes widening as she noticed Mulder's swollen black and blue knuckles as he wrapped his hand around his mug.
"I don't know, Scully" Mulder took a sip of the boiling hot liquid that tasted like a slice of heaven. Typically Scully. "I drove around the streets of Georgetown four times before I found her. She was in some alleyway with some guy older than me. God knows what would have happened if I hadn't found her. She's so hurt and damaged I don't know what to do" Mulder's eyes filled with tears and Scully reached across the table and took his hand in her own. "I was so scared last night, and when I saw her in the alleyway like that, drunk out of her mind, barely able to stand and some random old man taking advantage of her, I just saw red. I punched him, Scully. Twice. That's not me. I don't do those types of things but shes sixteen and she's my child and..." Mulder trailed off as Scully squeezed his hand. "I just don't know what to do, Dana"
The use of her first name almost knocked Scully from her chair. It wasn't foreign to her but she knew when Mulder used it, he really needed her. He was hurting, more so than she had ever seen him hurt before. He was so lost and confused, that if you added heavy black eye makeup and messy brown hair with pink, blue and green streaks, you would have Sophia staring at you. The same lost and scared look on her face.
"She's scared Mulder" Scully sighed. "She's scared and she just wants to run. But, I think she's trying" Scully smiled, not mentioning the fact that if she hadn't woken up at that precise moment she did, they would be out looking for her again. but she was right in saying that Sophia was at least trying to try. She hadn't ran. She could have, but she chose to stay. "You just need to talk to her. To try and find some common ground. It will be hard for her, but once she trusts you, she will let her guard down. It will take a lot of time and work and effort, but you can do it. The fact that you're both trying already says a lot" Scully rubbed the skin between Mulder's thumb and finger with her own perfectly manicured finger as she looked deep into his eyes, trying her hardest to give him the advice he so badly needed.
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Sophia scrubbed her face as the boiling hot water hit it. Black droplets fell from her eyes as she tried to scrub herself clean. Scully had told her to feel free to use any of the products in the bathroom and that there was a spare toothbrush and bar of soap in the cabinet above the sink. Sophia felt so strange and out of place in Scully's pristine bathroom. Everything was clean and sparkling and all her products probably cost more than everything Sophia owned put together. She reached for the bottle of shampoo and squirted some into the palm of her hand, watching the black water trickle down the drain. The shampoo smelt divine and nice enough to eat, much like her shower gels and lotions did. After her shower, Sophia pulled thw two clean towels around her body and head and shut off the water. She wiped away the condensation from the bathroom mirror and began her ritual. Her body was covered in hidden scars and bruises, some self inflicted, some not. There were tiny circular cigarette burns dotted around her body, old scars from where she had taken her pain and anger out on herself, newer cuts from the same reason. Most of her bruises and cuts had physically healed, but they would stay with her forever. She poked at her ribs which stuck out, much like most of her bones did. The last check up she had had almost two years ago had said she was underweight, and she had gotten even skinnier since then. Her fingers played with her belly bar for a few seconds before they travelled down to the tattoo on her left hip. It was an infinty sign with her Grandmother's birthdate and deathdate in the middle in roman numerals. Her thumb stroked at the exposed part of flesh, one the and only part of her body that she really cared about. She looked down at her legs which looked like two toothpicks. She liked her legs though, they were long. After meeting her father, she figured she must have inherited them from him. Cleaning the rest of the makeup from her face, she almost didn't recognise herself. She looked so young and innocent. Her big green eyes weren't hidden behind thick black eyeshadow and she actually looked like a teenage girl again. Sophia fiddled with her nose ring again before she headed back to the spare bedroom.
Sophia almost had a heart attack when she saw Scully was in the room.
"Sorry" Scully apologised as she fiddled around with some clothes she was laying out on the bed. "I er, I thought you might want me to throw your clothes in the wash for you" Scully smiled genuinley. "You can wear these until they dry" Scully pointed to the clothes on the girls bed. "I mean, you don't have to, if you don't want to"
"No. That would be nice" Sophia half smiled, holding out the clothes in her hand to Scully. "Thanks" she shrugged as Scully took the clothes from her.
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After changing into the clothes Scully had left on her bed, a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans, Sophia walked into the livingroom in search of her father. Her face was free from makeup and her hair was pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head. Mulder almost chocked on his coffee when he laid eyes on her. She was the image of Samantha, so much so that he had to do a double take.
"Sorry" Sophia sat on the lounge chair, pulling her knees to her chest. "I didn't mean to scare ya"
"You didn't" Mulder smiled, palcing his cup on thhe coffee table. "You just reminded me of somebody I haven't seen for a long time, that's all"
Sophia just nodded before she spoke again. "Dana said you wanted to speak to me"
"I do. About last night-"
"-I'm sorry about that" Sophia cut in. "Really. I am"
"I know" Mulder smiled. "It's just, you scared me. That's all"
Sophia just looked at Mulder, not knowing what to do or say.
"I know it's hard for you, but I'm trying here. I want to be your father and i'm going to try my hardest to make up for the last sixteen years. But you can't keep running, Sophia. You came to me, remember? I'm in it for the long run. You're my daughter. I can't help you if you keep running. That isn't the answer, I am trying and I want you to try too"
"I am"
"Good. Thank you"
RUN RUN RUN!
Sophia simply smiled, ignoring the voices in her head and her natural instinct.
"So, Scully and I were thinking it would be a good day to go shopping. Maybe get you some things you'll need"
"Oh, I er, I don't have any money" Sophia looked to her lap, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
"You don't need any. I'm the adult and the your father, i'm paying" Mulder laughed slightly. "Although, I can promise you now I won't be paying for shorts as tiny as the ones that are currently spinning around in Scully's dryer right now".
"As long as you don't buy me anything as hideous as that tie you had on yesterday, i'm sure we will be okay" Sophia cracked, letting down her guard and falling into easy conversation with Mulder.
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Before they had gone out to the shops, Sophia had ditched Scully's t-shirt for her own one fresh from the washing machine. She had kept the jeans on though rather than her tiny jean shorts she had on yesterday. She pulled her gray and red oversized checkers shirt over her fresh gray t-shirt and pulled on her tatty combat boots. She had also let her hair down so that it fell in loose, messy waves down her back and put on some makeup, not as much as normal but enough to hide the pain in her eyes and make her feel comfortable.
It felt weird to be shopping, let alone shopping with Mulder and Scully. She was used to stealing stuff from shops, not actually paying for things. They had decided to hit the clothes stores first, Sophia heading straight for the more grungey ones. They bought several t-shirts and checkered shirts along with several pairs of jeans and leggings. Sophia didn't own a coat so Scully had treated her to the leather jacket that had caught the young girls eye. They also bought several pairs of pyjamas and sweat pants, hoodies and just general lounge wear. They had been clothes shopping for hours and after buying some new shoes for the girl, they decided to stop for some lunch. As Mulder went up to order, Sophia turned to Scully.
"Thank you" She half-smiled.
"You're welcome" Scully smiled, knowing the girl was thanking her for her jacket.
Over the day, Sophia had let down her guard slightly. She had been trying. For some reason, she had connected with Scully. 24 hours ago Sophia despised the woman, but now she felt strangely safe in her prescense. Scully had this calming effect on Sophia and it was nice to see the girl relaxing. Sophia had grown attatched to Scully in the hours since she stopped her from running out the door again and she felt strangely trusting. It was weird and nice. She had never had this in her life, and even though it scared the hell out of her, Sophia was growing to like it.
"Are we going back to your place after we've eaten?" Sophia asked.
"Um, I think your dad wants to go and get you a bed"
"Oh" Sophia sighed. "I thought we were staying with you"
"You are, until your dad sorts his apartment out. But you're always welcome at my apartment, okay?" Scully smiled.
Sophia just smiled, shrugged and looked down at her phone.
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The search for a bed had been harder than anyone thought. Mainly because none of them really wanted to leave Scully's place. Sophia turned down every bed and mattress in the three shops they visited was was slightly glad when they went home without one. Mulder had bought Sophia a few other things that he thought she would need including school supplies, towels, a couple of books, makeup (which Sophia had convinced him into believing that eyeliner and mascara was an essential) and a bunch of tolietries. He had even snuck off and ordered Scully a massive bunch of flowers to say thank you while she and Sophia were off buying underwear.
The three of them were shattered once they got back to Scully's apartment and nobody was in the mood to cook, so they decided to order in a pizza. It freaked Sophia out once she realised how many possesions she now had. This time a week ago she was sleeping in the laundrette after running away from her most recent foster home, with nothing more than the clothes on her back, and now she had so many clothes and other belongings it took the three of them three journeys to the car to collect it all. All of these things meant she had to stay here permantently. A commitment.
RUN BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!
Sophia shoved her earphones in her ears and turned her music on full blast. As scary as it was, she had to give this thing a go. She couldn't keep living the way she had been. It was going to be hard, probably the hardest thing she had ever done in her life, but she figured she owed this to herself to try. She owed it to her Grandmother. The one woman who had loved her, who had done everything she could for her. If her Grandmother knew the way she had been living the past 8 years or the things she had been doing, it would have killed her all over again. That thought and realisation brought tears to Sophia's eyes. She was so royally fucked up that she couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. She didn't think she would ever be okay, but she was damn sure going to try.
Anybody even read this? If you do please leave me a review letting me know i'm not writing an updating for nothing:)